'Terrific project' for Rosendale building

ROSENDALE — A closed elementary school could help three towns save dough, gain space and offer new services.

Michael Novinson

ROSENDALE — A closed elementary school could help three towns save dough, gain space and offer new services.

Rosendale, Marbletown and Rochester might move all or some town functions into the former Rosendale Elementary School by the end of the year.

"This is unprecedented," said Pattern for Progress President Jonathan Drapkin, who's consulting with the towns. "It's an absolutely terrific project."

The old school, located in Rosendale, sits just 100 feet from the Marbletown border and four miles from the Rochester border.

Rondout Valley stopping using the building as an elementary school in June 2012.

Rosendale and Marbletown hope to relocate nearly all town functions to the 45,000-square-foot school, while Rochester might move less-trafficked departments such as planning, zoning and code enforcement.

"It's a hundred times better than what we have now," Marbletown Supervisor Michael Warren said.

The towns also want to convert the former school library into a shared courtroom, and use the cafeteria and gym to offer meals to seniors and after-school programs to children.

In addition, Rosendale police would be based at the school.

The towns expect to lease the 1968 building from the school district for as little as $1, with the towns taking over maintenance and upkeep costs.

Warren hopes to relocate town offices by summer, while Rochester Supervisor Carl Chipman doesn't expect any changes for at least a year.

The move means that Rosendale would no longer have to pay $1,400 a month to rent space for four departments, and would provide far less cramped digs for Marbletown officials.

"We're putting three people in offices that should only have one person," Warren said.

If Rochester opts to use the school, they could shed the massive heating and cooling bills associated with housing several town departments in a former warehouse as is now done.

State legislative approval would be required to allow Marbletown to hold board meetings outside the town, while the Office of Court Administration would need to sign off on Marbletown and Rochester courts meeting outside their town.

Marbletown set $60,000 aside in its 2013 budget for the move, while Rochester doesn't want to use any town money.

The towns plan to apply for state shared services and efficiency grants to reduce the renovation and moving costs.